...
"I didn't grow up. I'm the kind of person who learns nothing from mistakes."
Xuan Hao behaved quite properly this time. His hands were simply placed obediently in front of Bibi Dong's lower abdomen, unlike his usual restless wandering around.
He rested his broad chin wearily on Bibi Dong's soft, fragrant shoulder, and mumbled in her ear:
"Don't worry, I'll be very honest this time and I definitely won't touch you inappropriately."
"I just want to hug you. Teacher, it's been years since I hugged you like this.
When I was under the ice and fire barrier, I was facing extreme cold or extreme heat every day.
Back then, I thought every day about when I could come back and hug you again."
"I've already delivered myself right to your doorstep and been kicked, so please let me hug you a little longer, considering how pitiful I am."
Hearing the somewhat bratty yet deeply weary murmur in her ear, Bibi Dong's previously gathered soul power dissipated once again.
She sighed softly, letting the enormous creature, whose body was already over two meters tall, completely envelop her from behind.
To be honest, having lived for over forty years and sat in this cold and ruthless papal palace for twenty, everyone who saw her felt only fear, obedience, and defensiveness.
Only this audacious rogue behind her dared to use such a disrespectful, even shameless, attitude to forcibly tear down all her defenses and stuff the purest, most intense heat into her embrace.
She didn't actually dislike the feeling of being possessed so completely, even somewhat obsessively.
...
A long silence fell over the room.
The warmth of the blood flowed through the silk robe, giving the government hall, which was slightly cool in the early morning, a reassuring warmth.
Bibi Dong leaned against Xuan Hao's thick, wall-like chest, let out a long sigh, and gazed into the void ahead, speaking in a somewhat ethereal tone:
"Xuanhao, tell me the truth. Why did you rush back like this?"
Xuan Hao tightened his grip around her waist slightly, but said nothing.
"Don't try to fool me with nonsense like 'I miss you' or 'I'm here to see you,' which are just lies to deceive young girls."
Bibi Dong patted his right hand, which was clasped on her lower abdomen, and said, "Don't I, as your teacher, know what kind of person you are?"
"Even if you really want to go back to Wuhun City to see me, according to the normal procedure, you should accompany those girls to finish the preliminaries and promotion matches in the Heaven Dou Region.
Then, in the final stage of the grand finals, you can lead the team back to Wuhun City in a proper and honorable manner."
Bibi Dong turned her head slightly, looking directly at the handsome face so close to hers:
"But you've only been in the preliminaries for a few days, and you've already rushed over a thousand miles overnight to get here.
This is definitely not like you. Tell me quickly, what happened that made you go to such lengths?"
"Nothing else."
Xuan Hao blinked. "The qualifiers were just child's play. I was already banned from the tournament by the organizers. With Na'er and Rongrong leading the team, they could have easily made it to the finals with their eyes closed.
I was just sleeping in the lounge in Tian Dou City, which was so boring. So I came back first."
Do you think I'd believe that?
Bibi Dong gave a cold laugh, somewhat speechless.
"You're just beating around the bush. I know exactly what's going on in your head.
Are you still pretending with me?
You'd better tell me the truth."
Xuan Hao looked into Bibi Dong's eyes, which held a questioning look yet had regained their usual clarity and sharpness.
He fell silent.
This time, he didn't try to weave new lies as glibly as before. He simply slowly suppressed his playful grin, and his azure eyes became deep and calm.
He stubbornly continued to hug her from behind, burying his head in the crook of her neck, without saying a word.
Seeing Xuan Hao's expression, Bibi Dong also fell silent.
The embarrassment she had initially felt from this boy gradually dissipated in the deathly silence.
She knew this student, whom she had raised since childhood, all too well.
In the eyes of the world, Xuan Hao was a complete madman and a thug.
No matter what major event he faced, he could always put on a carefree and indifferent attitude.
The only thing that can truly calm him down in this world is the thing he cares about most.
Or rather, it's something he's afraid of.
Xuanhao's quietness was never calmness.
He was afraid, so he could no longer put on that smiling mask.
The quieter Xuan Hao appears, the more dangerous he often is.
This fear can transform into the most violent murderous intent in one's heart at any time.
If he jokes around with you normally, it means he doesn't think it's a big deal; at worst, he'll get a beating and it won't matter.
But if he keeps his mouth shut like this, and even his eyes become dark and unfathomable, then it means that he is truly afraid and truly has murderous intent.
Xuan Hao remained silent, even closing his eyes.
The arm around Bibi Dong's waist was so strong it felt like he wanted to knead her into his flesh.
Bibi Dong sighed inwardly.
She turned slightly to the side, and this time, Xuan Hao did not forcibly restrain her.
Bibi Dong turned to face him, stretched out her two warm palms, and gently cupped Xuan Hao's slightly tired face.
"What's up?"
Bibi Dong's voice softened completely, carrying the tolerance unique to elders, "Is there anything that even I can't tell you?"
Xuan Hao didn't open his eyes, but pressed his head firmly against her palm.
"Speak." Bibi Dong gently rubbed his cheek with her fingertips. "Or... is this matter related to me?"
Xuan Hao's long eyelashes trembled slightly, but he remained silent.
Bibi Dong stared at his handsome yet tense face, countless pieces of information flashing through her mind.
During his year or so in Tiandou City, Xuan Hao practically ruled the world.
Even the Tiandou royal family had to be mindful of his feelings. Logically speaking, nothing should have caused him to feel this way.
Unless, this matter is related to Wuhun City, and to Bibi Dong.
"Yu Xiaogang?"
Bibi Dong tentatively uttered these three words.
The moment the words left his mouth, Xuan Hao's eyes, which had been tightly closed, snapped open, and his handsome, sword-like eyebrows instantly twisted into a knot.
Seeing Xuan Hao's reaction, Bibi Dong's expression stiffened, and an unnatural look flashed across her face.
It must be.
In today's world, the only person who could make this fearless student show such an expression is that man known as a good-for-nothing.
"He...has come to Wuhun City?" Bibi Dong asked.
Xuan Hao remained silent, but a chilling crimson ferocity now surged within his azure eyes.
He didn't answer Bibi Dong's question. Instead, he suddenly reached out and pulled Bibi Dong into his arms tightly again, so tightly that even this peerless Douluo felt his bones ache.
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